International Conflicts. On 24th February 2024, the UK marked the two-year anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Since the war began, thousands have been killed in the fighting, millions more have been forced from their homes, with thousands of Ukrainians finding refuge in the UK. Whilst undeniably the most significant impact of the war is on Ukraine and its residents, there are knock on effects across Europe and the rest of the world in terms of supporting the migration of refugees, provision of humanitarian and military aid, cost of living increases as international trade and global commodity prices were impacted, in particular food and energy costs. On 7th October 2023 the Israel- Hamas conflict began, with thousands reported killed or injured across Gaza and Israel in the following months and an estimated 1.7million of Gaza’s population displaced. The recent conflict has seen political protests in the UK and increases nationally in hate crimes, antisemitism, and the impact surrounding the risk to increased radicalisation concerns. It is important for partners to be aware of any changes in community tensions or a rise in anti-Russian sentiment, antisemitism, islamophobia, and extreme right wing narratives, affecting community relations.
